Chasing Shadows - by Miles Johnson (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A compulsive true crime thriller about modern-day international drugs trafficking, terrorism and the mafia following an investigation driven by one DEA agent, Jack Kelly.

LONGLISTED FOR THE CRIME WRITERS' ASSOCIATION 2024 ALCS GOLD DAGGER FOR NON-FICTION

HIGHLY COMMENDED FOR BEST NEW AUTHOR AT THE 2024 TRUE CRIME AWARDS

JUDGES' CITATION: 'A cleverly constructed account of three different characters representing different aspects of the ruthless and fierce drugs trade. Never a dull moment. A real page turner... This book is gripping and immerses you in the very real world of the characters.'

'Read this powerful book by Miles Johnson right now.' - Roberto Saviano, author of Gomorrah

'McMafia for the new age' Catherine Belton, author of Putin's People: How the KGB Took Back Russia and then took on the West

'Compelling, visceral and highly readable' Oliver Bullough, bestselling author of Moneyland

'As breathless, complex and on-the-edge suspenseful as the finest thriller fiction - but it's all real, which makes it truly extraordinary' Lee Child

'This astonishing and cinematic rollercoaster of a debut will bring Miles Johnson's talent into the brilliant light. Delivered with trademark verve and precision, it achieves that rare and precious thing that is the goal of all great reporting: it reveals the world to itself' Alex Perry, author of The Good Mothers

'Miles has used his extensive Italian contacts to get a fully-fleshed out story in the Mafia section; likewise with the Hezbollah characters. He has interviewed over 100 people for the book, including many hours with Jack Kelly, the DEA investigator and hero of the book, which gives us an intimate look at a man dedicated to catching bad guys at the expense of his personal life' Dan McCrum, author of Money Men

Mafia capo Salvatore Pititto is in trouble. His wife is angry. His mistress is angry. And he is sweating in Calabria on the biggest cocaine deal of his career. Meanwhile in the US, veteran DEA agent Jack Kelly is on the trail of the dirty money funding dangerously powerful figures. One of them, Mustafa Badreddine, is a shadowy master bomb maker dispatched to Syria's civil war for his final mission. Each man has devoted his whole life to an institution that will eventually turn on him.

Based on hundreds of interviews and wiretap evidence from five different countries, Chasing Shadows is a compulsive true-crime thriller that draws us into a secret world of greed, ambition and betrayal - exposing the dark side of globalisation.

From the Back Cover

"As breathless and on-the-edge suspenseful as the finest thriller fiction" Lee Child

"Read this powerful book right now" Roberto Saviano

Mafia capo Salvatore Pititto is in trouble. His wife is angry. His mistress is angry. And he is sweating in Calabria on the biggest cocaine deal of his career. Meanwhile in the US, veteran DEA agent Jack Kelly is on the trail of the dirty money funding dangerously powerful figures. One of them, Mustafa Badreddine, is a shadowy master bomb maker dispatched to Syria's civil war for his final mission. Each man has devoted his whole life to an institution that will eventually turn on him.

Based on hundreds of interviews and wiretap evidence from five different countries, Chasing Shadows is a compulsive true-crime thriller that draws us into a secret world of greed, ambition and betrayal - exposing the dark side of globalisation.

"This is an extraordinary story" Fergal Keane

"Reads like a first-rate thriller" Spectator

"Compelling, visceral and highly readable" Oliver Bullough

"As gripping and suspenseful as any novel you'll read this year" Harlan Coben

Review Quotes

A page-turner that criss-crosses borders and time zones, told in brisk, episodic, non-linear chapters

A terrific and utterly absorbing account of the murky and lethal connections between transnational organised crime and global politics. Enthrallingly and lucidly written with great authority and expertise, it is a classic of its kind

As breathless, complex and on-the-edge suspenseful as the finest thriller fiction - but it's all real, which makes it truly extraordinary

Read this powerful book by Miles Johnson right now. It will make you realise that what we call terrorism is actually drug trafficking, what we call politics is organised crime and what we call peace is just a truce between mafias.

This astonishing and cinematic rollercoaster of a debut will bring Miles Johnson's talent into the brilliant light. Delivered with trademark verve and precision, it achieves that rare and precious thing that is the goal of all great reporting: it reveals the world to itself

Chasing Shadows is a fascinating journey into the intersecting worlds of politics, terrorism and organised crime. Miles Johnson adopts a narrative technique reminiscent of the late John le Carré, while telling a true story. The result is an impeccably researched book, which is also a pleasure to read

Chasing Shadows is a true crime work of international intrigue as gripping and suspenseful as any novel you'll read this year

Chasing Shadows offers a captivating glimpse into the complex world of international intrigue. This skilfully written thriller intertwines the compelling stories of three distinct men whose fates are undeniably linked. With its engaging prose, well-structured plot, and memorable characters, Chasing Shadows provides a thought-provoking look into the darker aspects of humanity and the high-stakes realm of drugs, terrorism, and power. Readers will find themselves fully immersed in this fascinating tale from start to finish.

A truly impressive book that takes the reader deep into the dark underbelly of global money laundering where Hezbollah, Russian arms traders, the Italian mafia and Colombian drug lords meet. This McMafia for a new age is vital for understanding the black cash networks that have funded wars and terrorism across the Middle East.

Gripping

Gripping... Part geopolitical essay, part toothsome slice of true crime ... [a book with] humour, tension and pathos - Four stars

Holy Mackerel, what a story! Miles Johnson exposes the interlocking worlds of terror and drugs with verve and drama in this tale of truck bombs, arms deals, political assassinations, undercover cops and several tonnes of cocaine. Chasing Shadows is an astounding true crime epic that puts us in the room as a Calabrian mob boss whispers to his mistress, a Lebanese militant plots to set the world on fire, and a US agent races to expose it all

Johnson has recreated the most private of criminal moments, including dialogue and even thoughts. He has opened a window on the narco-terror nexus that most observers knew very little about ... Johnson's writing gallops along.

Reads like a first-rate thriller. [A] vivid exposé of the murky world of transnational crime ... the overall narrative is so compelling and well-presented.

This book is like being inserted deep into the secret heart of the global criminal economy, where mafiosi, terrorists and traffickers are all on the same side. It's compelling, visceral and highly readable

This is an extraordinary story of improbable but lethal connections across continents. Miles Johnson writes with verve and insight about ruthless men and the terrible consequences of their crimes

About the Author

Miles Johnson is an award-winning foreign correspondent for the Financial Times who specialises in covering organised crime and financial corruption across the world. In over a decade at the FT, he has held senior roles in London, and worked as a correspondent in New York, Madrid and Rome. In 2021 he was nominated for British Foreign Reporter of the Year at the British Press Awards for his work covering the Italian Mafia.